Hong Kong’s Competition Commission says it plans to consider criminalising bid-rigging, with proposals aimed for submission as early as September and legislative amendments expected to be tabled by the end of the year. Barrister Jat Sew-tong, who becomes chairman of the watchdog in July, says the commission will seek changes to the Competition Ordinance to make bid-rigging a criminal offence. Hong Kong Free Press reports the watchdog is discussing a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment, while other coverage indicates the commission will move toward drafting proposals and legislative amendments on a similar timetable.
In addition to the bid-rigging review, the commission also plans to launch a study of the city’s auto fuel market after prices rise. The proposal follows heightened public scrutiny of competition-related conduct in the wake of a deadly Tai Po fire and comes as the watchdog signals broader work on market conditions. The commission is expected to continue its work on the fuel study and refine the criminalisation proposal before pushing the legislative process forward.
